The influence of lifetime depression on self-reported memory and cognitive problems: Results from the National Comorbidity Survey–Replication

Abstract

The current study investigated the association between lifetime major depressive disorder (MDD) and self-reported memory and cognitive problems in a general population sample. The study was based on data from the National Comorbidity Survey-Replication (n = 5692). The relationship between lifetime MDD and self-reported memory and cognitive problems was examined while controlling for other 1-year and lifetime psychiatric disorders. We found a lifetime history of depression, but no other lifetime psychiatric disorder, to be associated with self-reported memory and cognitive problems. We review the results in relation to theories regarding the comorbidity of depression and cognitive problems. A history of depression increases the likelihood that individuals will make negative evaluations of their memory and cognitive functioning. Though depression is highly comorbid with other disorders, our results are unique in demonstrating the specificity of depression in its association with self-reported memory and cognitive problems. The observed association between depression and self-reported memory and cognitive problems may reflect that depression increases the risk for cognitive decline or may reflect that individuals with a history of depression tend to rate their memory as poor, or both.

Keywords:

• self-reported memory
• depression

Acknowledgements

The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) is supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH; U01-MH60220) with supplemental support from the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF; Grant 044708) and the John W. Alden Trust. The public use version of the NCS-R dataset was released by the Interuniversity Consortium in Political and Social Research (ICPSR).

Notes

Note

1.  The DSM 1-year and lifetime disorders included in the regression analysis and found to be unrelated to self-reported memory and cognitive problems included: alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, drug abuse, drug dependence, agoraphobia without panic disorder, agoraphobia with panic disorder, panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, separation anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, PTSD, oppositional defiant disorder, intermittent explosive disorder, bipolar disorder and dysthymia.